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QUESTION |
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Taking half the dosage of VisiVite macular degeneration
supplements per day has some benefit, but not as much as taking
the full dose. TRUE OR FALSE
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ANSWER |
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FALSE. Many studies prior the National Eye Institute’s Age
Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) which was published in 2001,
looked at nutritional supplementation in preventing the
progression of macular degeneration. Prior to AREDS, no study
was able to show benefit. What made AREDS unique was that the
DOSAGES of antioxidants and zinc were significantly higher than
had been previously used. AREDS therefore showed that there is a
CRITICAL MINIMUM AMOUNT of nutrients required to positively
impact eye disease. There is NO DATA to support the fact that
taking half the recommended regimen of VisiVite is effective. |
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QUESTION |
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Centrum Silver has many more vitamins in it than VisiVite
supplements and so is probably more effective against eye
disease. TRUE OR FALSE.
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ANSWER |
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FALSE. Centrum Silver has many nutrients in each tablet.
However, the AMOUNT of each element is too low to be effective.
In patients in the National Eye Institute’s AREDS study, those
patients that took Centrum Silver with a placebo rather than a
powerful antioxidant and mineral supplement did not experience
any benefit for their macular degeneration. |
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QUESTION |
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The benefits of taking VisiVite nutritional supplementation for
macular degeneration are usually seen by one month. TRUE OR
FALSE.
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ANSWER |
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FALSE. The National Eye Institute’s Age Related Eye Disease
Study was carried on for several years before benefits were
proven. Our current recommendation is to take your VisiVite
macular degeneration formula for a minimum of six months before
making any conclusions as to it success. If your macular
degeneration stabilizes or your vision improves, you should
continue to take VisiVite indefinitely. |
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QUESTION |
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Only the “wet” form of macular degeneration can cause severe
vision loss. TRUE OR FALSE.
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ANSWER |
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FALSE. Certain forms of dry macular degeneration, including
geographic atrophy and central drusen, can cause severe central
vision loss. Dry macular degeneration can be slowed down and
vision can sometimes even be improved with VisiVite macular
degeneration supplements. Because there are no current
treatments for dry macular degeneration, it is vitally important
to take preventive nutritional supplementation. |
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QUESTION |
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The carotenoids Lutein and Zeaxanthin were not included in the
National Eye Institute’s Age Related Eye Disease Study because
they were not shown to be beneficial. TRUE OR FALSE.
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ANSWER |
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FALSE. Carotenoids
include the beta-carotene form of Vitamin A, Lutein and Zeaxanthin,
among others. The National Eye Institute did not include Lutein or
Zeaxanthin in the Age Related Eye Disease Study because neither of them
was available in commercial form. However, the benefits of each of these
compounds have since been proven in many scientific studies. Therefore,
the National Eye Institute is including both compounds in the AREDS2
Study, which will run for several years. Current VisiVite formulas that
include therapeutic amounts of both of these compounds are VisiVite i-Defense Gold Formula, VisiVite i-Defense Green
Formula and VisiVite E-Free Formula. |
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QUESTION |
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The high doses of beta-carotene in VisiVite macular degeneration
supplements can cause osteoporosis and has been linked to
increased frequency of hip fractures in women. TRUE OR FALSE.
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ANSWER |
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FALSE. Harvard researchers found an increased rate of hip
fractures in post-menopausal women with increased RETINOL, or
Vitamin A ingestion. However, beta-carotene is not Vitamin A
itself, but rather a precursor form of the molecule. Harvard
explicitly states that beta-carotene is SAFE for non-smokers and
to seek out vitamin supplements that use this safe form rather
than RETINOL. All VisiVite formulas contain beta-carotene and no
retinol. More information is available
here. |
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QUESTION |
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While the high level of Vitamin E in VisiVite macular
degeneration supplements was found to be beneficial to ocular
health, it was also shown to increase cardiac events and reduce
lifespan. TRUE OR FALSE.
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ANSWER |
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FALSE. There are many studies on the effects of Vitamin E. But
the study that matters most is the National Eye Institute’s Age
Related Eye Disease Study, which found a LOWER incidence of
cardiac related death in patients receiving the AREDS
supplements which included 400 IU of Vitamin E. Importantly, not
all Vitamin E is created equally. Many large manufacturers use
the less expensive synthetic Vitamin E, which will be identified
on the label as “DL-ALPHA” tocopherol. Natural Vitamin E, which
is identified as “D-ALPHA” tocopherol, is derived from natural
vegetable oils, and is generally regarded as both safer and more
effective. All VisiVite formulas use only NATURAL Vitamin E. |
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QUESTION |
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There is no successful treatment for wet macular degeneration.
TRUE OR FALSE
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ANSWER |
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FALSE. Previously untreatable except by direct laser burns which
treated the wet macular degeneration lesion but caused an
immediate loss of vision, wet macular degeneration is now a
treatable disease, thanks to the efforts of pharmacologic
research. Most of the promising work is focusing on medications
that are injected directly into the eye, including Macugen,
Avastin and Lucentis. Only Macugen and Lucentis are approved by the FDA.
However, both Avastin and Lucentis have been shown to improve vision in
patients with wet macular degeneration. |
